The Labor enquirer., 1887-10-08

alienabls rishts. NJ - q ~ ~
system which oonpelg - 49, -
fellow creaturesfor ~ ~ e o6o6 - = ~
and permits monopoliea - dsls1vo 49, 4
It's natural opportnnitiu ~ ou1D1nynuo
thus filling the land vith 1s1nps sonA - -
and bringing about a unnatxsnl eonpo1S'
tion, which tends to reduce vo0n - uanRva,
tion rates and TO make u vso1lhr rJso1neog
the industrial slave ofthooo w NV ~
by his toll. IS S ,. 81
arising from social growth an inpaUvsnnsnt
belong to society n large, ~ ain q Hthoaboa-
iiion Of the system which unskossueh bonea-
cent inventions a. the railrnod an1 Telegraph
means for the oppression " ~ people a.d
the aggrandixement Of an axistocsacy a
wealth and power.
We declare the true purpose of goveennent
to be the maintenanse of that saWed nsht a
property which gives to every ons oppsstu-
nifty to employ his labor and security hat h
shall enjoy its fruits; 70 prevent ths strong
nom depressing the veak and TIE unscEupu-
ious from robbing the honest; and to do for
the equal benefit Of al such things - can be
better done by orgamized society than BY In
dividuals; and we aim 1t the abolition OF al
laws which give to any class Of citizens IN ad-
vantage, either judicial, financial, industrial
or political. that are not equally shared BY
all others.
We call upon all who seek the emancipation
oflabor and who would male the American
Union and its component states democratic
commonwealth Of really nee and independ-
ent citizens, to ignore all minor differences
and join with us in organizing great na-
tional paaty on this broal platform OF nat
urai right and equal justice.
We do not aim at securing any forced
equality in the distribution OF wealth. We
do not propose that the state shall attempt to
control production, conduct distribution, or
In anywise interfere with the equal rights Of
others. Nor do we propose that the state
shall take possession Of land and either work
1t or rent II out.
: What we propose is not the disturbing Of
any man in his holding or title, but by abol-
ishing alltaxes on industry or its products
to leave to the producer the full fruits OF bis
exertion, and by taxation Of land values to
the exclusion Of Improvements, TO devote to
the common use those values which, arising
not from exertioA of the individual, but nom
growth OF society, belong TO the community
as a whole. This Increased taxation Of land,
not according to its area, but according to its
value, must, while relieving working farmers
and small homestead owners Of the undue
burdens now imposed upon them, make it
Improbable TO hold land for speculation, and
thus throw open abundant opportunities for
the employment Of labor and the building up
of homes.
While thus simplifying government, by
doing away with horde Of officials required
by the present system of taxntion, with its
incentives 10 fraud and corruption. we would
further promote the common veal and fur
ther secure equal rights ofall by placing un-
der public control such agencies as are in
their nature monopolies. We would have
our municipalities supply their inhabitants
with water, light and heat; we would have
the general government issue all money with
out the intervention Of banks; wewouldadd
postal telegraph system and postal savings
banks to the postal service. and would as
sumo public control and ownership of those
iron roads which have become highways of
modern commerce.
While declaring the foregoing to be the fun
damental principles and aims of the United
Labor Party, and while conscious that no re-
form can give effectual and permanent relief
10 labor that does not involve legal recogni-
tion OF equal rights to natural opportunities,
we nevertheless. as measures of relief from
some of the evil effects of ignoring those
rights, favor such legislation as may tend to
reduce the hours of labor, to prevent employ
ment OF children Of tender years, to avoid
competition of convict labor with honest in
dustry, TO secure sanitary inspection of tene-
ments, factories and mines, and to put an
end to the abuse ofthe conspiracy laws.
We desire also to simplify he procedure of
our courts, and diminish the expenses Of le-
gal proceedings, that the poor may be placed
on an equality with the ricr, and the long
delays which now result In such scandalous
miscarriages of justice may be prevented; |;
and since the ballot is the only means by
which, in our republic, the redress of political
especially and emphatically declare for the
adoption OF what is known as the "Austra-
liam system OF voting" in order that the
effectual secrecy of the ballot and the relief
ofcandidaies for public offices from the heavy
expenses now imposed upon them may pre-
vent bribery and intimidation, do away with
the practical discrimination in favor of the
rich and the INSCRIPTIONS. and lessen The
pernicious influence of money in politics.
In support ofthese aims we solicit the CO
operation of all patriotic citizens who, sick
OF the degradation of politics, desire by con-
stitutional methods to establish justice, to
preserve liberty, to extend the spirit offrater-
nifty, and TO elevate humanity.
PLATFORM OF THE PROGRESSIVE
LABOR PARTY.
AT meeting held in Webster
Hall, New York, September s,